INVERTED REPEAT Meaning and
Definition
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An inverted repeat refers to a particular DNA sequence pattern that occurs when two identical or very similar sequences are present in a DNA molecule, arranged in the opposite direction to each other. It is characterized by a sequence of nucleotides that reads the same from one end to the other end, but in the reverse complementary orientation.
Inverted repeats are commonly found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, playing crucial roles in various cellular processes. They are frequently associated with genetic regulation, as they can form hairpin loops or stem-loop structures, providing binding sites for proteins or RNA molecules involved in gene expression control.
One important feature of inverted repeats is their ability to form secondary structures. The reverse complementary nature of the sequences allows them to base-pair with each other, resulting in the formation of double-stranded RNA or DNA loops. These structures can have significant impacts on gene function, as they can hinder or enhance the accessibility of the DNA sequence to transcription factors, RNA polymerases, or other regulatory molecules.
Furthermore, inverted repeats have been implicated in DNA replication and repair processes. Inverted repeat sequences can participate in DNA recombination events, serving as crossover points during homologous recombination. They also contribute to the formation of secondary structures in DNA, which can lead to replication errors or DNA instability.
Overall, the presence of inverted repeats in genomes highlights their functional significance in various biological processes, making them an important aspect of genetic analysis and understanding gene regulation.
Common Misspellings for INVERTED REPEAT
- unverted repeat
- jnverted repeat
- knverted repeat
- onverted repeat
- 9nverted repeat
- 8nverted repeat
- ibverted repeat
- imverted repeat
- ijverted repeat
- ihverted repeat
- incerted repeat
- inberted repeat
- ingerted repeat
- inferted repeat
- invwrted repeat
- invsrted repeat
- invdrted repeat
- invrrted repeat
- inv4rted repeat
- inv3rted repeat
Etymology of INVERTED REPEAT
The word "inverted" comes from the Latin word "inversus", which means "turned upside down" or "reversed". The word "repeat" is derived from the Latin word "repetere", meaning "to repeat" or "to go back".
In the context of genetics or molecular biology, an "inverted repeat" refers to a specific pattern of nucleotides in DNA or RNA sequences that are reversed or flipped. This term is used to describe a region where the sequence on one strand reads the same as the sequence on the complementary strand when read in the opposite direction. The term "inverted repeat" is used to indicate that the sequence is repeated, but in an inverted or flipped orientation compared to the surrounding DNA or RNA.
